Treasure trove

07:10 14 October 2012

Mercury letters

Archant

SIR - To say that the Knowle is “not a gem” is, of course, a pure matter of opinion. It is only six months since the Herald referred to Connaught Gardens being the “Jewel in the Crown” (when it was attacked by vandals).

The Knowle is no less a treasure. Furthermore, English Heritage would not themselves have stated that “the parkland has been eroded by dwellings, many owned by protesters”.

Even if there are many protesters in houses surrounding the Knowle, who incidentally bought their houses next to existing parkland, there are many, many more protesters who live well away from the park, and many more outside Sidmouth itself. Do not forget the 4,209 names on the last petition, as well as over 1,200 letters to the council to save the Knowle.

The word “official” in your headline of the SidmouthHerald (September 28, 2012) is, frankly, silly. We are not talking about a dictionary definition of the word “gem”. Come on, Herald, you can do better than this.

In the same issue, under the heading “Back the move”, you print a letter from a person, name and address withheld. How very bold of that correspondent!! In your own rules you state that requests for anonymity should be capable of justification. Please explain why this correspondent claims to remain anonymous.

Perish the thought that it could just have been a district councillor penning this letter. Surely not one from Honiton? They wouldn’t stoop so low, would they?